Fishing reel



Oct. 17 1944.

P. GARMAN FISHING REEL Filed Nov. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheetl wmwm w INVENTOI R ROBERT E GAR/MN ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1944. R P, GARMAN 2,360,488

FISHING REEL Filed Nov. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Roamr P. GAR/MN BY J na ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 17, 1944 I UNITE-D ESTATES j [2,360,488

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.Robert -P. Garman. Akron, Ohio. assignor to The Enterprise" Mani'lfaeturing ,Company, Akron, Ohio; a corporation ofOhio Application November 26, 19,41,:Serial-NoA-ZOAM '10 "Claims.

The present "invention relates to *fishing' reels and particularly to reels "of the type =in -wh ich "there is provided "a drag 'mechanism :usually known as 'a"hand1e drag because it is associated with the crank handle. This type of construc- "tion isg'enerally *employed insalt waterreels "which are used for large salt water fish, and the .invention'herein described and claimed is for an improvement inthis drag mechanism.

"The purposeof'thedrag mechanism is to -pro- "vide' adjustable friction b'etween the crank and "the'sha'ft'or driving sleeve towhich it is connected and the gear-which is in mesh with the spool driving pinion. With the 'device is'usually associated a ratchet mechanism which prevents the crank from operating" in the' direction to pay out the "line, the "rotation of *the spool in-that direction being retarded by the 'frictiomexerted against the gear by the"'adjustable '-drag mecha- "nism. The objection"to"present standard forms of "drag mechanism isthat they-are universally -un- "even and -irregular 'in operation; there -bei-ng=-a tendency in'even the'most highly developed prior drag mechanisms to grabbing or jerky or uneven "release. "In themechanism as shwn "-and"-de 'scribed hereinithere is'a" new and improved combination of parts or elements 'whichinsures a "smooth "and ev'en operation at an 1 degrees offricfti'o'nal resistance. Thefrictienal' drag is' exerted through spring pressure elements whichexert an ev nly distributed loadover the frictional sur-f ace "and'by reason or thefact that-at adjustment ior even the maximum "drag, there isa certain yield- -5 die -'in..one formdofLthe invention,;.showing the ".partsin .a "relaxed orlight frictional relationship. :This embo'climent ofpthe invention is designed :fonheavy; re'elsrinwhichthe;l0ad;exerted may be Wery. great.

1 0 :fFig." 2 is :a similar cross-section. showing the drag mechanism in its maximum frictional adjustment.

-;"Fig.ri 3.:is' a CIOSSRSBClJiOII oniithe Iline': 3. 31 of Fig.1.

Fig.4 isa view of la. modified .and less highly developed-.form.:0f the invention-.atyits relaxed "-gposition.

- a'llig. 5 is the .device'. of 'ls'ligwl in-its ,maximu adjusted position.

(In 'Figs.:1 and 2;;the numeral [is applied to the bridge' of the ree1,'.;the balance. ofthe reel frame not being shown as i it maybe. .of: any standard typeja listhevgear. casingeor cap having therein tithe thrust: bearingt3 rinarwhichgthespool shaft 4 'is journaled. On the-shaftat is; located-the spool drlVlng -piniOI1il5 whichiiseusually provided -With :a shifting lever .:.for.. freespool. operation. The pin-ioni meshes withsthe main driving gear 6.

Rising fromitheibridge lv is the:,fixed post.8. on

which is 'rotatably mounted. .theahollow shaft .or

driving sleeve ID on which the gear.6.is-rotata- -ble, th'e drivingconnection abetweemthe sleeve l0 "and: gear- 6 being. through. the --.dragl mechanism to be described. The. inner: end of: the shaft "l 0 ingpressure-evenlydistributed throughout the isprovided with='the1ratchet .l2 iormed onzthe dragmechanism. The operation is alwaysuniform; smooth" andeven and there is' no tendency to a jerky -orspasmodic "release as is true -of--a1l other types -of-drag'- mechanism. The effect-of outer edge of a fiange II 4 andengageable by. the pawll3, 'so thatreversemovement. of theshaft isprevented. Theouterendpf the shaft or. sleeve H0 isprovided :.with" flati surfaces .on which-the "*this form of drag mechanismis to-give a smooth, *m cperating crankflli is located, ".beingheId-Jin po- "even' adjustable dragwithoutany tendency f to g'rab*and OneWhiCh will-operate in "this manher for all adjustments; 'even=-to' the maximum,

and as it retains sufficient spring inf' theparts .-;sition byfthe cap screw'zl 6. 'A, screw: threadedbolt elliengagingeinthe post 8. holds theidrivingsleeve in position. g V

.::The;:'out'er s end..-.of-.;the driving sleeve --,is,. screw -to'avoidharsh actioneven-at the=-maximumad- .threadedEand .:on=1..this=;portion. ofgthe sleeve .is

justment.

"Itfis also anobject-bf thedn-Vention-to provide for an auxiliary support 'for the shaft; which-is especially advantage'ous in the' -larger types of salt Water reels where the excessive strains t'end to bend or break the post upon which -thes'haft rotates.

The new and improved- I drag device is adapt- "able to-any type of' reel'and fo'r this i eason -only ethreaded the adjustingrdevice,usually in the form "of ,a star-wheel 20,. the :inner side of whiehis-provided witha flangefikwliich bears upon the fric- .tiondevices to ;the extenhto which the star-,wheel :-,is,;moved downwardly on thesleeve. :Surrounding ".the' -m'echanismzis a tubularpasing 24.

Surrounding-the, driving sleeve and flying; be-

.itweerrthe. flange l4 and thev gear= Ggisa metal sdis -26. .zus al or ede vb a v so other the "'drag-'mechanism issh'oWm -and' described. '5 isprin i r and held iromyrotationrelativeto The'balanoe ofthe reelma'y beof anyl-well known "form. v r r It will he understood that while the -.des'cription" and drawing are quite spe'cific to thettwo thesleevejby thepins 2 1. It-will beobserved' that this j disk is concave or cupped so-that. in; normal or uncompressed conditionit .assumesthe shape ishown in Fi 1. -.HQwe e ;whenr n s r r {apbest known or preferred -forms' of the invention,t60.pliedthejdisk wil-ljlatten-and exertxpressure upon shown in Fig. 1, so that in relaxed position it lies substantially as shown, but will flatten out, as shown in Fig. 2, under load.

It will be noted that the outer side of the plate 32 is recessed to provide room for the spring disk retainer when the unit is under compression, as will be described.

Pressure on the friction members is transmitted from the star-wheel and its flange 22 to the interposed frictionless or ball bearing ring member 36. In order to exert a certain retarding action on the star-wheel so that it will not drift from its adjusted position, there is located in the recess provided by the fiange 22 a spring retainer consisting of a spring metal cup 38 (Fig. 3), the rim of which is formed with spring fingers which are pressed outwardly to bear against the inner surface of the flange 22. A filler piece 39 is located Within the cup 38.

Between ball bearing ring 36 and the outer surface of the disk 32 are located a plurality of ringshaped spring metal disks, here shown as four in number. These disks are formed of relatively heavy spring metal and are cupped or concaved so that in normal or uncompressed condition they assume the position shown in Fig. 1. It is preferred to arrange those disks which are numbered 40 in pairs, each disk of a pair being oppositely positioned with respect to its mating disk and with the rims of the disks of each pair in contact. In order to hold this pile of disks together when the device is taken apart for cleaning and oiling, a ring-lik retainer 42 is provided which fits in the apertures of the several disks and is bent on opposite sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to hold the several disks together. When the drag mechanism is compressed, this retainer will be received in the recess in the face of the plate 32.

As the pressure is applied through the manipulation of the star-wheel 20, these disks will flatten and the spring pressure transmitted thereby to the disks 32 and 26 will be evenly and uniformly dis-.

tributed about the entire periphery of the disks and thus evenly distributed to the friction members, and there is no possibility of any localization of the pressure. As a result, the rotation of the gear 6 about the driving sleeve ID will also be smooth and free of jerkiness, a feature which is extremely valuable, especially in reels of this type where jerking of the line will create strains which may break the line, or in which momentary relaxation of the line may cause loss of the fish. Any jerkiness in the operation of the drag will be transmitted to the crank and is extremely dis advantageous when reeling in the line. i

In order to insure this smoothness of operation even when the drag is set at its maximum, the arrangement is such that the disks 46 will never be entirely flattened but will always be arched or bowed slightly and thus retain some degree of spring. This is assured by forming the .washers from a metal stock of the requisite temper and thickness so that they will not completely flatten under any pressure which can be exerted by hand adjustment of the star-wheel.

The smoothness of operation is also assured by reason of the cupping of the plates 32 and 26,

The disk 32 is also concave or cupped, as

but it will be observed that these will flatten out under compression before the disks 40. As a result, the pressure transmitted to the disks 32 and 26 will be applied'o'ver the entire surface of that is, with the centers of the disks of a pair in contact, instead of the rim contact, but this is not preferred. In the preferred arrangement the pressure is applied to the rims rather than at the hubs of the disks 46 and more even pressure is thus applied.

One of the principal advantages of the drag mechanism shown herein is that in both forms of the invention the friction disks which contact the gear 6 may be made of Bakelite, or some like material, either with or without a fibrous content. With previous drag mechanisms smoothness of operation has been improved by the use of leather disks which are sufficiently compressible to compensate, in a measure, for uneven pressure applied through the mechanical parts of the drag. With the improved type of drag, however, and with the maintenance of spring pressure at all times, even at the maximum, the composition friction disks operate more smoothly than leather disks. Leather disks may also acquire a permanent distortion and deteriorate rapidly from water or oil, an objection which is not present with the Bakelite or composition friction disks.

It will also be observed that while the pressure is always a spring pressure, the combined pressure exerted by the six spring members, i. e., the

,disks 26, 32 and 46, is suflicient to exert all of the resistance necessary to retard the rotation of the gear 6 about the driving sleeve. 7

It is also possible to secure a fairly effective drag without cupping either or both of the disks 26 and 32, the spring washers or disks 46 maintaining adequate yielding pressure, but the maximum benefits of the invention are secured by the use of the full spring action of all of the parts as described.

In reels of this type, particularly large reels, the lateral strains to which the shaft is subjected, due to the weight, size and fighting ability of large game fish, often cause failure because there is no support for the shaft except at its base and consequently the post 8 will frequently break or loosen at the point of its attachment to the bridge I. The bearing 36 in the present form has an additional function because it also serves to support the post 8 at a point along the housing 24, so that the strains exerted upon the shaft are also borne by the part 24. It will be noted that the ball bearing 36 is set with its sections coaxial with the shaft so as to act as a frictionless bearing opposed to the side thrusts of the shaft l0. 7

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5, a simpler construction is shown which is suitable for lighter reels where the friction drag to be exerted is not so great as in the other and larger form. In those views, so far as possible, like reference numerals are applied to similar parts.

In this form, the front plate I supports the post 8 on which the driving sleeve I0 is mounted.

The sleeve I0 is provided with the enlarged base flange 56 and the ratchet 5| is keyed to thesleeve on the upper side of the gear. Between the flange 56 and the gear 6 is located one friction disk 52, the second friction disk 54 being on the opposite side of the gear and separated from the ratchet by a'washer 55.

The crank I is mounted on the end of the driving sleeve and the star-wheel 2!] is threaded on the sleeve below the crank. In this case the under side of the star-wheel is provided with the groove 58.

The pressure of the star-wheel is transmitted to the friction members through a disk 60 which rests upon the top of the upper member of a pair of cupped spring metal disks or washers 62 which are arranged similarly to the washers 40 in the other form of the invention. These Washers are located in a housing 64 which is recessed to receive them and which bears at its inner end against the ratchet 5|. A split spring lock ring 65, seated in a groove in the housing, holds the parts 60 and 62 in position when the device is disassembled.

In this embodiment of the invention, the spring pressure disks 62 are arched so as to exert the spring pressure upon the friction members when the maximum adjustment is secured and, as with the disks 40, are so designed and proportioned as to retain their cupped formation even against the maximum pressure which may be exerted by manual adjustment of the star-wheel.

It will be seen that a characteristic feature of the invention in either form lies in the fact that the pressure is transmitted from the adjusting means, or star-wheel, through the arched cup-like spring metal washers, and the design is such that the spring pressure is present at even the greatest point of adjustment. This assures the smooth operation of the drag, which has not been found in other form of drag mechanism. By the mechanism shown, the operation is better than can be obtained with the older forms of drag mechanism in which leather disks were employed and, in addition, the disadvantages of using leather for this purpose are eliminated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drag mechanism for fishing reels, a shaft, a spool driving gear rotatably mounted on the shaft, friction members on opposite sides of the gear, and means to apply adjustable pressure upon the friction members, said means comprising a manually adjustable pressure device movable on the shaft, and spring metal washers between the adjusting means and the friction members, said washers being cupped and placed in reverse position and so designed and proportioned as to arrest the movement of said adjustable pressure device, when manually operated, before said washers are flattened.

2. In a drag mechanism for fishing reels, a shaft, a spool driving gear rotatably mounted on the shaft, friction means in contact with the gear, and means to exert pressure on said friction mean comprising a manually adjustable pressure device movable on the shaft, and a cupped spring metal washer between the pressure device and the gear and so proportioned and designed as to arrest the inward movement of the pressuredevice, when manually operated, while the washer is in cupped condition.

3. In a drag mechanism for fishing reels, a shaft, a spool driving gear rotatably mounted on the shaft, friction disks in contact with the gear, a manually operated pressure device threaded on the shaft, and a plurality of normally concave spring disks between the pressure device and the gear, said disks being so designed and proportioned as to arrest the inward movement of the pressure device, when manually operated, before all of said disks are flattened.

4. In a drag mechanism for fishing reels, a shaft, a spool driving gear rotatably mounted on the shaft, a manually adjustable pressure device threaded on the shaft, friction means in contact with the gear, and a plurality of concave spring metal disks between the pressure device and the gear, said disks being placed in opposing relationship and in rim-to-rim contact and so designed and proportioned as to arrest movement of said adjustable pressure device, when manually operated, before said disks are flattened.

5. In a drag mechanism for fishing reels, a shaft, a spool driving gear rotatably mounted on the shaft, an adjustable pressure device threaded on the shaft, friction means in contact with the gear, a plurality of concave spring metal disks between the pressure device and the gear, said disks being placed in opposing relationship, and means to retain said disks in assembled relationship when removed from the reel.

6. In a drag mechanism for fishing reels, a shaft, a spool driving gear rotatably mounted on the shaft, an adjustable pressure device threaded on the shaft, friction means in contact with the gear, a plurality of spring metal disks between the pressure device and the gear, and means to retain said disks in assembled relationship when removed from the reel.

'7. In a drag mechanism for fishing reels, a shaft, a spool driving gear rotatably mounted on the shaft, an adjustable pressure device on the shaft, friction disks in contact with the side of the gear, pairs of concave spring metal disks between the pressure device and the gear, the disks of each pair being placed in reverse position, and means to maintain the disks in assembled position when removed from the reel.

8. In a drag mechanism for fishing reels, a shaft, a spool driving gear rotatably mounted on the shaft, an adjustable pressure device on the shaft, friction disks in contact with the sides of the gear, concave spring metal pressure plates on opposite sides of the gear, pairs of concave spring metal disks between the pressure device and the gear, the disks of each pair being placed in reverse position, and means to maintain the disks in assembled position when removed from the reel. m

9. In a drag mechanism, a shaft, a spool driving gear rotatable about the shaft, and friction means to drive said gear from the shaft including a yielding spring pressure member and manually operated mean to compress the spring pressure member to varying degrees, said pressure member having sufiicient resistance to the manual operation of the compressing means to arrest the operation of the last named means before the pressure member is wholly compressed.

10. In a, drag mechanism, a shaft, a spool driving gear rotatable about the shaft, and friction means to drive said gear from the shaft including a plurality of spring pressure members and manually operated means to compress said spring pressure members to varying degrees, said pressure members having suflicient resistance to the manual operation of the compressing means to arrest the operation of the last named means before all of said pressure members are wholly compressed.

ROBERT P. GARMAN. 

